There are literally millions of apps out there. There are apps for music, movies, television, reading, games, going to concerts, buying stuff, selling stuff, finding stuff, going places…you get the idea. If there is something that you need or want to do or accomplish, there is an app out there that promises to do it for you (or to make it easier). With so many apps to choose from, how do you know which ones are most worth space on your device?
Honestly, it depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. If you want to turn your phone or tablet into a gaming and entertainment device, you’ll want apps like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and whatever games you most want to play…and that one with the cats because everybody loves that one with the cats.
In this article we’re going to focus on the apps that will help you better run your business. Whether you’re a freelancer, artist or small business CEO, these are the apps (and types of apps) that you need to have at the ready.
Payment Apps
Mobile payment apps are to small businesses, freelancers and artists what point of sale systems were to retailers a decade ago. Mobile payment apps allow you to process any type of payment no matter where or when it comes your way.
Right now the best and most popular mobile payment app is Square. Square is great because you can use it on your phone or tablet. It can be used to process a single payment on the fly or you can set it up in a retail shop to act as a point of sale system. It’s a step up from the average POS, though, because it allows you to accept and process payments through a single account–even if you’re using that account on several devices. It all syncs up instantly.
Square also offers things like inventory tracking, which can be helpful come tax time.
Document Processing (Signature Apps)
Nobody faxes anything anymore. Scanning and emailing is a time-consuming process. This is why more and more companies are turning toward apps that help them digitally sign and process their documents and contracts instantly. For example, CudaSign is an esignature company offers users the ability to digitally sign and submit documents in just a couple of seconds. Most importantly, the digital signatures sent via this company are legally binding. It’s especially helpful for documents that require signatures from a group of people (like a management contract for a band).
Everybody can sign on their own device without your having to print up a bunch of separate copies for everybody to sign and collect.
Note Taking and Productivity Apps
Stop using those little slips of paper! They just get lost before you have a chance to do anything with them (and by the time you remember you lost that piece of paper you’ve definitely forgotten exactly what was on it). Instead, keep track of thoughts and inspirations and reminders with a note taking app. Evernote is by far the most popular of these apps and with good reason. You can sync your notes automatically across a variety of devices, which is helpful for people who switch back and forth. They even have Evernote-compatible notebooks for those of you who just can’t give up the pen and paper method of note taking. Jot down your thoughts in the notebook, snap a pic with your phone and viola! Synced!
Collaboration Apps
Unless you’re running a truly solo enterprise, you likely have to work with other people on a variety of projects. Trying to keep track of who is doing what and when can be a huge headache. This is where apps like Trello come in handy. They allow you to create lists and then moveable and customizable “cards” within those lists so that you can see who exactly is doing what and when they are doing it.
Scheduling Apps
Yes, iCal and Google Calendars are great and, for the most part, easy to use. You can even sync them across devices and users. For most business owners and freelancers you need more. Timely is an app that allows you to block out time for different tasks and projects as well as for appointments and meetings. It is a great way to map out that to-do list you’ve been keeping in Evernote.
These are just some of the apps that are great for business. There’s also Shake, which helps you create legally binding contracts quickly, Toggl, which helps you track your time and many more. Before you get overwhelmed, though, try the apps mentioned here. You can also check out Clockspot which is another amazing tool for your business. You’ll be surprised by how many needs they meet!
About Carson Derrow
